Proposed apartment complex in Chico would serve those with mental illness

CHICO &GT;&GT; Funding is not entirely secure but a group of individuals are steadily working to make a housing project for those with mental illness a reality.

The Valley View Apartments would be located behind the Torres Shelter near the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds and provide 14 units of housing as well as supportive services and skills training to adults with severe mental illness. On Tuesday, the city of Chico's Finance Committee approved some lease and financing components, with further approvals still needed from the City Council, Butte County Board of Supervisors and state agencies.

While the project could change and construction is still at least a few years off, the current proposal meets the city's housing goals and serves on of its most vulnerable populations, said city housing manager Marie Demers. With an ongoing concern about so many people who are experiencing homelessness in this community, perhaps this project will be an opportunity for at least some of them to be housed.

"It's a small step toward solutions for assisting that population," Demers said. "Nobody is under the illusion that 14 units is going to solve it all, but it's a step in the right direction."

The project was originally presented in 2011 with the Torres Shelter expansion project, with the vision the two would be developed simultaneously. Like many projects, Valley View went on hold during the economic downturn, after failing to secure funding before the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency.

Originally designed for those ages 18 to 24, it has since been expanded to serve adults 18 to 62 years old with serious mental illness who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. It would have 14 one-bedroom units and a two-bedroom management unit, as well as a community room, computer labs, laundry area and other amenities.

With the support of Butte County Department of Behavioral Health and North Valley Catholic Social Services, the apartments would incorporate on- and off-site case management, vocational and job training, educational opportunities, and peer connections. Tenants, who represent the lowest income bracket — which is about $11,500 a year, will pay $225 a month.

The project relies on $44,800 in Community Development Block Grant funds, $266,000 in city Home Investment Partnership loan funds, $1.5 million in Mental Health Services Act dollars, and about $3.5 million in low-income tax credit proceeds. The substantial cost of the project is because initial and long-term expenses are secured up-front, to guarantee necessary operational reserves, Demers said.

The goal of the project is to help those with struggling with mental illness and homelessness be more self-sufficient, said Jeremy Wilson, community services program manager for Butte County. The point-in-time homeless count earlier this year revealed 23 percent of the roughly 1,500 respondents identified as having mental illness.

With a lot of talk about the importance of "housing first," providing stable living opportunities has been identified as a community need, Wilson said. This unique project structure fills that gap.

"The goal of the wellness and recovery model is that individuals feel empowered and that they have a voice in their treatment and their future," Wilson said.

The project's concept could still be altered, and a 30-day public comment period should open soon.

"Event though there are some local dollars being dedicated, there are still quite a few steps before there is any final outcome determined," Wilson said. "Early to late spring is when we will know for certain if this project is going to move forward. It's all still a proposal."

If all goes well, construction could start in January 2016 and be complete by that year's end, Demers said. It will be overseen by Southern California-based Palm Communities.